Two hundred and sixty four… two hundred and sixty five… two hundred and sixty six…

Zoe sighed and rolled over, tearing her eyes from the dizzying ceiling. Counting every individual, ornate tile above her would not help her tonight. She looked to her window where a breeze tossed her curtains about eerily, the sounds of crashing waves echoing in her silent chamber.

She stood up suddenly, kicking her blankets off her and clasping her hands together. Her stomach twisted nervously and she began to pace her bedroom. Today had been a long day. They'd had a vicious training session in which Toph had taken her part as the 'Melon Lord' very seriously and it had seemed to be going well until…Aang couldn't take out a melon stuck to a stick.

Then, come dinner he had practically shouted at all of them and was on absolute 'freak out' mode about taking the Fire Lord's life. Zoe wrung her hands nervously; what if he couldn't do it? What if he failed? What if died? The thought of Aang, her teacher and her friend, dying was bad enough. But, what would happen to the world? No pressure Aang…

Zoe grasped her hair anxiously, and then turned to the door; she needed a walk. But, just as she went to turn the corner out of her room she barrelled straight into a broad, muscled chest.

She blinked at the sparkling golden eyes above her. "Couldn't sleep?" asked Zuko knowingly.

Zoe nodded, "I was going for a walk."

Zuko's eyes searched her face, sliding from the tight, stressed lines around her eyes to the worry within them. "Can I join you?" he asked quietly.

She nodded again and they headed toward the beach slowly.

"Zuko?" said Zoe suddenly, her voice tentative. He turned to look at her; her brow was creased with worry. Zoe glanced at him, "I…what if Aang fails?" she said in a rush, "What if he can't take out Ozai?"

Zuko wanted to tell her that it would all be fine, he would be able to kill his father, but the truth was; Zuko didn't know if Aang could. "Don't think about that." He said, "He won't fail; he's the avatar."

Zoe bit her lip nervously, looking out to sea. The sand was still warm beneath her feet; it had been a hot day, and they were getter hotter with every hour closer to the day of the comet.

Zoe sat down very suddenly in the sand and Zuko followed suit. "Ok…" said Zoe slowly, "you say Aang won't fail. I'll trust you on that." Zuko's stomach flipped and he clenched his jaw. "So, say he takes down the Fire Lord…then what will happen?"

Zuko looked over to her; her hair blew around her face lightly, her skin glowing in the ethereal, blue light of the moon. She was beautiful. "You told me you live in the present, that what was to come would come and you would see what happens when it happens." he said softly, "So what are all these 'what if's' about?"

Zoe took in a ragged breath. "Everything is going to be so different soon." She said, "and I guess I'm just…" she sighed, "I'm…scared. I'll admit it. I'm absolutely terrified."

Zuko had never seen her so vulnerable before, "You don't have to fight." He said, "in fact I'd rather you didn't…"

"I want to fight!" cut in Zoe loudly, "I want to. And I will. It's not me I'm scared for. I don't care if I go out there and get scorched until I'm a little pile of ash." Zuko flinched at her terminology. "I'm scared for Aang." She said quietly, hugging her knees to her body. "I'm scared for Katara and Sokka and Toph and Suki." Her voice sounded almost fragile, like it could break at any second. "I'm scared for the whole Earth Kingdom! And I'm scared…very scared of losing you."

There was a moment of silence, but then Zuko stood up suddenly and Zoe looked at him in alarm. But, he merely moved to sit behind her, placing his legs, upturned, around her and his arms wrapped round her waist from behind.

"Look…" murmured Zuko, his breath tickling her hair, "It's not going to do any good by thinking about all the possible outcomes that you're afraid of." He told her, knowing that what he was saying was very similar to advice she had so often given him. "We just have to focus on the task at hand, live in the present, and that means helping Aang take down my father."

Zoe sighed and leant her head against his chest. "Ok…" she said, her other thoughts and arguments disappearing...the warmth of his body around hers lulling her into a calm sense of security, perhaps like this she might be able to fall asleep…

Her eyes fluttered shut, her head nestling into a more comfortable place on Zuko's toned chest and Zuko looked down at her, smiling tenderly. He moved his arms so that he could pick her up, bridal style, and carry her back to her room.

A few steps later, halfway back up the beach, Zoe realised what was going on, "H-hey, what're you doing?" she demanded groggily.

"Taking you to bed." Replied Zuko simply.

Zoe blinked, and then frowned. "Excuse me?"

Zuko rolled his eyes, "You're tired."

But, already Zoe's attention was elsewhere, "Zuko," she said shocked, her eyes staring at a large mass out in the ocean, "that island wasn't there before."

Zuko frowned at her, "you really need some sleep."

"Really, Zuko that's creepy."

"Zoe, islands don't just appear like that, you're sense of direction must be messed up."

Zoe glared at him, "says he, a man. My sense of direction is excellent. That island was not there before. H…hey!" she said suddenly as if only just realising something, "put me down!"

Zuko frowned, "No, I'm taking you to bed." He said for the second time.

Zoe's heart sped up, "Would you stop saying it like that?" she demanded and he smirked. Zoe glared at him, but he kept walking till they turned into her room and he was placing her gently on her bed. He hesitated for a moment, Zoe looking up at him innocently.

"What?" he demanded.

"Nothing…" shrugged Zoe, looking away quickly. He leant down and placed a soft kiss to her forehead, his hand caressing her cheek briefly. Then, he turned to leave, but Zoe grasped his wrist quickly.

"Don't go." She pleaded and he stared at her. "Can you…stay with me tonight?"

"To…sleep?" he confirmed, clearing his throat.

Zoe frowned, "what do you think I meant?"

"I…uh, nothing. Move over."

Zoe raised an eyebrow, but shuffled over to make room for Zuko who sat down beside her. He looked at her, and she looked at him, then he lifted an arm, inviting her inside and she smiled, accepting. She shuffled closer to him allowing his arm to wrap around her as they lay down and she tucked her head on his chest. She nestled herself even closer so that her warmth was pressed up against him, obviously very comfortable and her soft breath tickled the sensitive hairs on Zuko's neck. Her hand rested on his stomach while his was seated on her curved waist. Almost subconsciously his fingers began to trace her slender sides and Zoe breathed in quickly feeling an odd jerk below her abdomen while her stomach clenched.

Zoe's hand formed a fist around Zuko's shirt as she could feel his skin beneath it begin to heat up. "Stop that…" she murmured quietly.

"Stop what?" he hissed back, his tone almost demanding.

"You're going to burn my ear; is it that hot in here?"

Zuko cleared his throat slightly, "that depends what you mean."

Zoe frowned. "Well I certainly don't understand what you mean."

Zuko chuckled lightly, "and that's probably a good thing. Go to sleep; you're going to need it."

Zoe sighed then titled her head to face him and placed a light kiss to his jaw. He inhaled deeply and Zoe settled her head back into his chest allowing his heat and presence to give her a sense of safety. Her eyes fluttered shut and her breathing became slow and deep as she finally slipped into the world of dreamers, at peace, for now.

Zuko woke at sunrise, the first rays hitting his face and warming his blood. He looked down to see Zoe still sleeping, held tight in his arms, tighter than when they had fallen asleep. The image brought a smile to his face and he had to admit…he wouldn't mind waking every morning to this.

He moved a hand up her body to lightly trace her cheekbone; she stirred slightly under his touch, but didn't wake. Zuko's eyes flickered to her lips that parted slightly, a soft sigh escaping from her mouth. Unable to resist, he tilted his head forward and kissed her lips lightly, he hesitated before pulling back, and then kissed her lips again, this time lingering a little longer. It took him a moment to realise that there was pressure building against his own lips as slowly; sleepily Zoe was kissing him back. He opened his eyes to meet with hers which were currently hooded and hazy.

"Uh…morning." He muttered, ashamed at being caught kissing her whilst she slept.

Zoe frowned and leant back up to reclaim his lips. "I wasn't finished." She complained.

Zuko allowed a small smile to appear on his face, "we have to get up." he told her. He couldn't allow himself to get distracted; he wanted one last training session with Aang before they headed off.

Zoe sighed and sat up slowly; she rubbed her eyes and yawned, then looked to Zuko, only to find him already staring at her. Zoe blushed, then her eyes went wide and her hands leapt to her head. "My hair's a hay stack isn't it?" she demanded anxiously; normally no one saw her first thing in the morning, normally she had time to tame her hair before anyone else awoke.

Zuko shook his head, a small blush colouring his unscarred cheek. He tore his eyes away from her quickly, his heart speeding up; he had to gain control of himself. There could be no distractions this morning.

"I…have to go get Aang; firebending is strongest at sunrise." He said quickly, standing up and stretching. Zoe watched him, uncertain at his behaviour. "I'll see you at breakfast." he flashed her a quick smile then turned to exit, but then stopped at the door, hesitating, and then looked back at her. She was still sitting on her bed watching him, her face unreadable. He walked back over slowly and then leant across the bed to kiss her one last time that morning. He pulled back, not as quickly this time, his features gentle. "See you at breakfast." He repeated.

Zoe sighed and watched him leave, this time without turning back, her heart thumping a little too fast in her chest.

By the time Zoe came down to breakfast, she found everyone packing and Zuko standing annoyed with his arms crossed in front of Sokka who seemed to be lecturing him.

"Look, just let me go find Aang so we can train before we leave, then you can lecture me."

"You!" cried Sokka when he noticed Zoe's presence and she looked at him startled.

"What?"

"We need to have a talk." He told her condescendingly and Zuko grimaced behind his back.

"Hey, has anyone seen Aang since last night?" asked Toph suddenly.

"I don't think he wanted to see any of us last night." commented Zoe, trying to ignore Sokka's death stares.

"It's just I can't feel him anywhere." continued Toph.

Katara looked at the younger girl nervously, "perhaps we should go look for him."

"Good idea." snarled Zuko, "he and I still need to train."

But, they couldn't find Aang anywhere. Not in the house, the yard, no where. They all walked down to the beach, following his footprints only to find they end mysteriously at wave washed sand.

Zoe stared at the ocean, something nagging at her, something that was wrong; missing. The others were talking, Sokka said something about him being in the spirit world, but Zuko corrected him, saying his body would be here and then Zoe gasped.

"The island is gone again!" she cried astounded and everyone looked at her. She blushed, "I told you so Zuko!" she said, "Now tell me my sense of direction is messed up."

"We're probably on a different part of the beach!" sighed Zuko exasperated and Zoe growled angrily.

"This is exactly where we were last night! The island was there! Now it's gone!"

"Hang on…" said Sokka slowly, "what were you to doing alone on the bea-"

"Oh shut it, Sokka." snapped Zoe, still glaring at Zuko. "I think Aang's on that island."

"Zoe…" said Katara slowly, "there's no island there."

"I know that!" hissed Zoe, "that's what I'm saying: it's gone. And so is Aang! I don't think that's a coincidence."

Everyone except Toph and Zoe shared a worried glance. "Let's just search around the island for Aang." said Katara.

"Zoe, maybe you should go up and get some more rest." Sokka said, his tone hitting a nerve with Zoe.

"Why don't you go shove Aang's staff up your ass Sokka?" She snapped furiously, "I'm going to go look for that island!" with that she stormed away from the lot of them in search of her own glider.

"You know, maybe she's right." said Toph reasonably. "Weird stuff happens to us; who says an island can't disappear? Aang just has."

"Well…let's just take a look around for now and see if Zoe finds her mysterious island. Otherwise…well, let's just hope we find him." said Katara, looking out to sea apprehensively.

A good two hours later Zoe landed back in the courtyard of the summer home, dispelling her cloud cover, a look of disappointment and worry on her small face. The others sat miserably on the stairs, all except for Sokka.

"Get out of the Bison's mouth Sokka." Said Zuko angrily, "we have a real problem here." He looked up to see Zoe walking over to them slowly. "And I'm guessing Zoe didn't find her magical island so Aang is still no where to be found and the comet is only two days away!"

Zoe glared at him for not believing her about the island, but he ignored this. "What should we do Zuko?" asked Katara.

Zoe turned her glare on the waterbender; unable to believe that she would ignore her judgment so easily and go for the boy's who she has hated for years.

"I don't know…" Zuko replied, standing up his eyes flicking from Katara to Suki to Toph who were all staring at him. "Why are you all looking at me?"

Zoe was angry, she wasn't looking at him. "Don't ask me." Snarled Zoe angrily, he eyes locking on Sokka who was currently floating in Appa's saliva.

"Well you are kind of the expert on tracking Aang." said Katara reasonably.

"We won't find him…" Zoe muttered darkly, "he's on that island!"

Everyone ignored her and Toph backed up Katara's point. "Yeah, if anyone's got experience hunting the Avatar, it's you" she said.

Zuko looked away, his brow creased in thought and suddenly his eyes lit up, "Ok." He said, his tone determined, "I have an idea."

A/N Thank you so much for all your reviews everyone XD I'll definitely be doing a sequel!

Oh, I just want to say something about the airbender thing :) I suppose it is slightly AU to mike and bryan's stand point that there are no airbenders left. I just think that how could the fire nation have known they killed all of them? that not one survived? Some could have been away from the air temples at that time of the comet, half way between traveling from the northern temple to the eastern one or down with the other nations for whatever reasons. You never know. So anyway I think blood finds away XD But, yeah slightly AU to the original story I guess, but hey that's what fanfictions are for aren't they?

Also, readinfromphone your drawing is amazing XD thank you so much for doing that! I feel special lol XD I also really wish I could draw... =(

Anyway...please review XD You guys keep me writing!